An Integrated Approach to Assess the Potential of Forest Areas for Therapy Services

Yonko Dodev, Miglena Zhiyanski, Maria Glushkova, Bilyana Borisova, Lidiya Semerdzhieva, Ivo Ihtimanski, Stelian Dimitrov, Stoyan Nedkov, Mariyana Nikolova and Won-Sop Shin
Additional contact information
Yonko Dodev: Forest Research Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 132 “St. Kliment Ohridski” Blvd., 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
Miglena Zhiyanski: Forest Research Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 132 “St. Kliment Ohridski” Blvd., 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
Maria Glushkova: Forest Research Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 132 “St. Kliment Ohridski” Blvd., 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
Bilyana Borisova: Landscape Ecology Department, Faculty of Geology and Geography, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 15 “Tzar Osvoboditel” Blvd., 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
Lidiya Semerdzhieva: Landscape Ecology Department, Faculty of Geology and Geography, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 15 “Tzar Osvoboditel” Blvd., 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
Ivo Ihtimanski: National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Akad. G. Bonchev Str. Bl.3, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Stelian Dimitrov: Cartography and GIS Department, Faculty of Geology and Geography, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 15 “Tzar Osvoboditel” Blvd., 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
Stoyan Nedkov: National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Akad. G. Bonchev Str. Bl.3, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Mariyana Nikolova: National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Akad. G. Bonchev Str. Bl.3, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Won-Sop Shin: Department of Forest Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdaero, Seowongu, Cheongju 28644, Korea

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-30

Abstract: The study considers forest therapy as a tool for diversification of forest management. An up-to-date integrated approach for assessing and mapping potential of forest areas which could provide conditions for forest therapy services is developed and tested. It is based on combining data from the traditional forest inventory in Bulgaria and other open databases with methods for integrated assessment and mapping of ecosystem services: 7 criteria groups and 22 indicators are proposed, rated on a 5-point scale. Overlay analysis is applied to generate a composite assessment for each forest unit. Using spatial statistics tools, territorial hot spots with potential for forest therapy are identified. The methodology was successfully tested in a pilot case-study region, Smolyan Municipality, but it is applicable at broader scale, regardless of the type and ownership of forests. This approach could be transferred to other countries as well after adapting to their geographical, geoecological and socio-cultural specifics and database available. It is a cost-effective and informative tool to support forest owners and managers to diversify forest welfare services focusing on insufficiently used forest recreation potential.

Keywords: forest therapy; forest recreation; integrated assessment and mapping; forest management; forest welfare services; cultural ecosystem services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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